4503.31
Annual registration by persons other than manufacturers, dealers, or distributors - use of placards.

As used in this section, "person" includes, but is not limited
to, any person engaged in the business of manufacturing or distributing, or
selling at retail, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing in, motorized
bicycles who is not subject to section
4503.09 of the Revised Code, or an
Ohio nonprofit corporation engaged in the business of testing of motor
vehicles.

Persons other than manufacturers, dealers, or distributors may
register annually with the registrar of motor vehicles and obtain placards to
be displayed on motor vehicles as provided by this section. Applications for
annual registration shall be made at the time provided for payment of the tax
and postage imposed on manufacturers, dealers, or distributors and shall be in
the manner to be prescribed by the registrar. The fee for such registration
shall be twenty-five dollars and shall not be reduced when the registration is
for a part of a year. Applicants may procure a reasonable number of certified
copies of such registration upon the payment of a fee of five dollars and
appropriate postage as required by the registrar for each copy.

Upon the filing of the application and the payment of the fee
and postage prescribed by this section, the registrar shall issue to each
applicant a certificate of registration and assign a distinctive number and
furnish one placard with the number thereon. With each of the certified copies
of the registration provided for in this section the registrar shall furnish
one placard with the same numbering assigned in the original registration
certificate and shall add thereto such special designation as necessary to
distinguish one set of placards from another. All placards furnished by the
registrar pursuant to this section shall be so marked as to be distinguishable
from placards issued dealers, manufacturers, or distributors. Placards issued
pursuant to this section may be used only on motor vehicles or motorized
bicycles owned and being used in testing or being demonstrated for purposes of
sale or lease; or on motor vehicles subject to the rights and remedies of a
secured party being exercised under Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code; or on
motor vehicles being held or transported by any insurance company for purposes
of salvage disposition; or on motor vehicles being transported by any persons
regularly engaged in salvage operations or scrap metal processing from the
point of acquisition to their established place of business; or on motor
vehicles owned by or in the lawful possession of an Ohio nonprofit corporation
while being used in the testing of those motor vehicles.

Placards issued pursuant to this section also may be used by
persons regularly engaged in the business of rustproofing, reconditioning, or
installing equipment or trim on motor vehicles for motor vehicle dealers and
shall be used exclusively when such motor vehicles are being transported to or
from the motor vehicle dealer's place of business; and by persons engaged in
manufacturing articles for attachment to motor vehicles when such motor
vehicles are being transported to or from places where mechanical equipment is
attached to the chassis of such new motor vehicles; or on motor vehicles being
towed by any persons regularly and primarily engaged in the business of towing
motor vehicles while such vehicle is being towed to a point of storage.

Placards issued pursuant to this section also may be used on
trailers being transported by persons engaged in the business of selling
tangible personal property other than motor vehicles.

No person required to register an apportionable vehicle under
the international registration plan shall apply for or receive a placard for
that vehicle under this section.

The fees collected by the registrar pursuant to this section
shall be paid into the state bureau of motor vehicles fund established in
section 4501.25 of the Revised Code and
used for the purposes described in that section.